Michael L Casteel

US Patent:

20030180201, Sep 25, 2003

Filed:

Mar 14, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/389187

Inventors:

Barbara Belt - Seabrook TX, US
Stephen Landis - Katy TX, US
Michael Casteel - Houston TX, US
M. Crews - Bullard TX, US
Kevin Maloney - Tyler TX, US
Karl Hoitsma - Tyler TX, US

Assignee:

ConocoPhillips Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

B01J008/04

US Classification:

422/196000, 422/197000, 422/198000, 422/200000, 422/211000

Abstract:

A tubular reactor with a catalyst bed and inserts placed within the tubes redirecting the flow from the center to the wall of the tube. The redirected flow increases the amount of heat transfer through the system by moving the reactants from the low heat transfer zone at the center of the tube to the high heat transfer zone at the wall of the tube. In one embodiment, the tubular reactor comprises a tubular reactor having a series of tubes, within the tubes are a plurality of flow obstructing inserts and a catalyst bed. The inserts may comprise a plurality of inclined, conical, or spiral plates. The plates may be affixed to the wall of the tube and may depend on the catalyst bed for structural support.